Package containing electric components

ABSTRACT

A package containing electric components in which the body of the components is placed in a cavity of a profiled paper strip and are prevented from moving in the transverse direction of the strip by parallel ribs. The cavities and the ribs are located on the same side of the profiled strip and are covered by a second smooth paper strip which is connected to the profile strip by means of several adhesive connections, one on each side of the cavities. The connection wires are enclosed by the two strips throughout their length and circumference. The package is very flexible in the longitudinal direction and has a great rigidity in the transverse direction.

United States Patent Boone et al.

PACKAGE CONTAINING ELECTRIC COMPONENTS inventors: Salomon Boone; FransVan Der Heiden, both of Emmasingel, Eindhoven, Netherlands .U.S. PhilipsCorporation, New

York, NY.

Filed: Sept. 11, 1972 Appl. No.2 287,968

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 25. 1971 Netherlands..' 7l 13223US. Cl. gtmsgo Int. Cl B65d 73/02 Field of Search 206/65 F, 78 B, 80 AReferences Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 4/l959 Krill 206/65 F UX 8/l960Williams 206/65 F 10/1960 Nelson 206/63.2 R X Primary Examiner-LeonardSummer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank R. Trifari 5 7 ABSTRACT A packagecontaining electric componentsin which the body of the components isplaced in a cavity of a profiled paper strip and are prevented frommoving in the transverse direction of the strip by parallel ribs. Thecavities and the ribs are located on the same side of the profiled stripand are covered by a second smooth paper strip which is connected to theprofile strip by means of several adhesive connections, one on each sideof the cavities. The connection wires are enclosed by the two stripsthroughout their length and circumference. The package is very flexiblein the longitudinal direction and has a great rigidity in the transversedirection.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PACKAGE CONTAINING ELECTRIC COMPONENTS Theinvention relates to a package containing electric components which areprovided with connection wires, in which the components are arrangedwith their bodies in cavities of a profiled strip of a flexible materialand are prevented from moving in the transverse direction of the stripby parallel ribs on both sides of the cavities. The cavities are boundedby two incisions in the longitudinal direction of the strip. Both thebody of the components and the connection wires are located within thewidth of the strip.

For automated mounting of electric components on mounting panels, thecomponents can be supplied by means of such a package in an orientatedmanner and at a given pitch distance from each other. In a known packingof this type the components are maintained at a given pitch distance butthe connection wires are partly free and are protected from deformationonly to a limited, extent.

Since the pitch distance of the connection wires must be very accuratefor automated mounting deformation and damage to the connection wiresmust be prevented.

It is the object of the invention to provide a package which fulfilssaid requirements.

According to the invention this object is accomplished by providing thecavities and the ribs on the same side of the strip and closed by asecond smooth strip of a flexible material which is locally andadhesively connected to the profiled strip. The connection wires areenclosed by the two strips throughout their length and circumference.

Bending of the connection wires is prevented by the complete enclosureof the connection wires by the strips and by the relatively greatrigidity of the package in the transverse direction. However, thepackage is very flexible in the longitudinal direction, that is to sayabout an axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, so that thepackage can easily be rolled up or folded.

A preferred embodiment of the package according to the invention ischaracterized by an adhesive connection of the two strips on each sideof the cavities. The shape and the dimensions of the strips correspondto the shape and the dimensions of the body of the components. The bodyof the components is enclosed and locked by the adhesive connections insuch manner that any movement of the components relative to the stripsisprevented.

The package according to the invention is suitable for components havingeither axial connection wires or for components having parallelconnection wires. However, components having parallel connection wiresare more difficult to pack in view of the asymmetric construction ofsaid components. Another preferred embodiment of the package accordingto the invention which is particularly suitable for components havingparallel connection wires is characterized in that the components areplaced in the cavities with their connection wires facing the same edgeof the strips. An adhesive connection is provided between the incisionsand the edges and extending between two ribs parallel relative to theconnection wires on both sides of the cavities, adhesive connectionsprovided between successive cavities extending throughout the width ofthe strips.

It must be possible for the adhesive connections of the two strips to beprovided in a simple manner. In a further preferred embodiment of thepackage according to the invention this is possible by providing stripswhich consist of paper having a polythene layer on the sides facing eachother.

By laying the two strips against each other with their sides coveredwith a polythene layer and exerting a pressure on-the proper locations,the strips adhere together without, however, adhering to the components.Experiments have demonstrated that the strength of the resultingadhesive connections adequately meets the requirements. The use ofpolythene as an adhesive has the additional advantage that upon removingthe components from the package by tearing the two strips apart, they donot tend to adhere together again. This aspect is of particularimportance in the automated assembly of components in which a stronglyadhering adhesive may result in disturbances during assembly.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to anembodiment shown in the drawing. In

the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electric componentto be packed having parallel connection wires,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the package according to theinvention,

FIG. 3 is a side-elevation of the package.

FIG. 4, 5 and 6 show various stages of the packaging process.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the finished package.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a part of a package 1 having two identical components3 shown in'FIG. 1. These components of which the body 5 has arectangular crosssection and longitudinal section are provided with twoparallel connection wires 7 which project from the base plane 9 of thebody 5. The end face 11 of the body 5 is flat. The components have anoverall length a, a width b and a thickness d; 0 denotes the distancefrom base-plane 9 to end face 11 of the body 5. The components 3 areplaced with their body 5 in cavities 13 of a profiled paper strip 15having a width e, the connection wires 7 facing one of the edges 17 ofthe strip. Viewed in the transverse direction, the cavities 13 arebounded by incisions 19 extending in the longitudinal direction. Thestrip 15 furthermore comprises on either side of the cavities 13 eachtime two ribs 21, 23 which extend from the incisions 19 up to the edges17 and are directed upwards on the same side of the strip 15 as thecavities 13. The connection wires 17 are enclosed over the greater partof their circumference by the ribs 21. The cavities 13 as well as theribs 21 and 23 are covered by a second smooth paper strip 25, the widthof which is equal to the width e of the profiled strips 15. The twostrips are locally connected together by adhesive connections 27, 29 and31. Adhesive connections 27 between successive cavities extendthroughout the width 2 of the strips 15 and 25 while adhesiveconnections 29 and 31 extend from the incisions 19 up to the edges 17between the ribs 21 and 23. The body 5 of the components is locked inthe cavities 13 by the adhesive connections, one on each side of thecavities l3, and by the ribs 21 and 23, as a result of which anymovement of the components relative to the strips is prevented. Thewidth e of the strips 15 and 25 is greater than the length a of thecomponents so that they fall entirely within the width of the strips.The connection wires 7 are enclosed and protected by the stripsthroughout their length and circumference. The package according to theinvention has a very great rigidity in the transverse direction as aresult of which any deformation of the connection wires is practicallyprevented. In the longitudinal direction, however, the package has theflexibility which is required for coiling or folding. On their sidesfacing each other the strips are preferably provided with a polythenelayer which serves as an adhesive, as a result of which adhesiveconnections with the required rigidity are obtained merely by the localsqueezing of the strips.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show various stages of a possible method of packing thecomponents as well as diagrammatically a device for carrying out themethod. The paper strip which is not yet profiled is supplied, with thepolythene layer directed upwards, to a chain 33 which is driven stepwiseand comprises recesses 35 the width and depth of which, taking intoaccount the thickness of the paper strip, are adapted to the width b andthickness d of the components 3 to be packed and the length of whichcorresponds to the width e of the strips. In a first position thecavities 13 are successively formed by pressing the paper strip 15 intothe recesses 35 by means of a punch 37 and folding it. In view of theproperties of the polythene layer serving as an adhesive the strip doesnot adhere to the punch. During the stepwise movement of the chain 33the incisions 19 are made by incising the formed cavity 13 in two placesin the longitudinal direction of the strip to approximately half thedepth of the recesses 35. FIG. 5 shows a part of the strip after thisoperation. The distance of the two incisions 19 is substantially equalto the distance c between the base plane 9 and the end face 11 of thebody 5. The components 3 which are supplied in an orientated manner arethen placed in the incised cavities 13. The smooth paper strip 25 isthen supplied, with the polythene layer directed downwards facing theprofiled strip. In a further position the adhesive connections 27 areeffected by pressing the two strips against the chain by means of apunch 39 between the components 3 and throughout the width e of thestrips and adhering them together. This operation can be repeated in afollowing position by means of a second punch 41, the two punchesnaturally performing their punching stroke simultaneously. In thisphase, the adhesive connections 29 and 31 are also provided by pressingthe part of the strip 15 on either side of the components 3 upwards bymeans of a lower punch 23 against the lower side of the smooth strip 25,which is supported by a rigid counter punch 45. As a result of this theribs 21 and 23 are also formed. The package is ultimately removed fromthe chain wheel 33. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the package obtainedin this manner.

The components can be removed from the package nents out of the cavitiesfrom the wire side without cutting the paper strips, during whichoperation the profiled strip will tear.

For packing other components deviating from the embodiment, thedimensions and the location of the cavities, the ribs and the incisionsas well as the width of the paper strips must be adapted to the shapeand the dimensions of the components.

What is claimed is:

l. A package containing electric components each having a body andconnection wires extending from said body comprising a first profiledstrip of flexible material, a cavity formed in said profiled stripaccommodating the body of each said component, ribs formed in saidprofiled strip in a direction parallel to said connection wires andtransverse to the longitudinal direction of said strip located on a bothsides of said cavities for preventing movement of said component, twoincisions extending in the longitudinal direction of said strip formingthe boundary of said cavities separating each cavity from its associatedribs, each said body and associated connection wires being accommodatedwithin the width of said strip, said cavities and ribs located on thesame side of said profiled strip, and a second unprofiled strip offlexible material covering said bodies and connection wires, saidunprofiled strip being connected to said profiled strip at selectedlocations by an adhesive, the connection wires being sandwiched betweensaid profiled and unprofiled strips and enclosed within at least some ofsaid ribs throughout their length and circumference.

2. The package according to claim 1 further comprising an adhesiveconnection of said unprofiled and profiled strips on each side of saidcavities, the shape and dimensions of said cavities corresponding to theshape and dimensions of the body of said components.

3. The package according to claim 2 wherein said components are providedwith parallel connection wires and wherein said components are placed insaid cavities with the connection wires facing toward the same edge ofsaid strips, said adhesive connections being provided between saidincisions and the edges of said strips and extending between two ribsparallel to said connection wires for each of said components, adhesiveconnections being provided between successive cavities and extendingthroughout the width of said strips.

4. The package according to claim 5 wherein each of said strips comprisepaper having a polythene layer on the side facing each other.

1. A package containing electric components each having a body andconnection wires extending from said body comprising a first profiledstrip of flexible material, a cavity formed in said profiled stripaccommodating the body of each said component, ribs formed in saidprofiled strip in a direction parallel to said connection wires andtransverse to the longitudinal direction of said strip located oN a bothsides of said cavities for preventing movement of said component, twoincisions extending in the longitudinal direction of said strip formingthe boundary of said cavities separating each cavity from its associatedribs, each said body and associated connection wires being accommodatedwithin the width of said strip, said cavities and ribs located on thesame side of said profiled strip, and a second unprofiled strip offlexible material covering said bodies and connection wires, saidunprofiled strip being connected to said profiled strip at selectedlocations by an adhesive, the connection wires being sandwiched betweensaid profiled and unprofiled strips and enclosed within at least some ofsaid ribs throughout their length and circumference.
 2. The packageaccording to claim 1 further comprising an adhesive connection of saidunprofiled and profiled strips on each side of said cavities, the shapeand dimensions of said cavities corresponding to the shape anddimensions of the body of said components.
 3. The package according toclaim 2 wherein said components are provided with parallel connectionwires and wherein said components are placed in said cavities with theconnection wires facing toward the same edge of said strips, saidadhesive connections being provided between said incisions and the edgesof said strips and extending between two ribs parallel to saidconnection wires for each of said components, adhesive connections beingprovided between successive cavities and extending throughout the widthof said strips.
 4. The package according to claim 5 wherein each of saidstrips comprise paper having a polythene layer on the side facing eachother.